Briatore satisfied with 2004

Flavio Briatore: "Everything in its time"
The Renault F1 Team's Managing Director is satisfied with a season where
the team increased in competitiveness. He explains why.
Q: Flavio, what was your initial reaction when team president Patrick ...

Flavio Briatore: "Everything in its time"

The Renault F1 Team's Managing Director is satisfied with a season where
the team increased in competitiveness. He explains why.

Q: Flavio, what was your initial reaction when team president Patrick Faure
gave you your objectives for 2004?

Flavio Briatore.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

Flavio Briatore: We finished the championship in fourth place last year and we had to
improve. It is fair to say that we had a tough job over the winter: the
engine architecture was new and we were behind schedule on the technical
side. It wasn't easy to combine all the different elements, but we
managed to do so.

Q: Was it a good championship for the Renault F1 Team?

FB: Yes. We achieved our targets and that is the main thing. Personally,
I am pleased with how the team conducted itself - we took risks, raced
aggressively and made the most of our opportunities. Like everybody else,
I am disappointed not to have finished second in the constructors'
championship but the competition were simply better than us. Ferrari were
untouchable and BAR made extraordinary progress. It is important to bear
in mind is that Renault is still a young team and we must make solid
progress at every stage, without rushing things.

Q: Is time important for success in F1?

FB: Yes. It's when you try and do things too quickly that mistakes are
made.

Q: Are you disappointed that Jacques Villeneuve did not score any points in
the final three races?

FB: Of course, but the task he faced was enormous. He was learning about
a car he had never driven, different tyres and speeds that were 4 seconds
faster than last year. The circumstances didn't help him either: a new
track in Shanghai, the cancelled Saturday of Suzuka and then a wet start
on slick tyres in Sao Paulo.

Q: So, in the space of three years, Renault has become a top team. Are you
pleased?

FB: People often say there are four top teams in the paddock but I don't
agree. In my view, there is only one and that's Ferrari. The others need
to close the gap to them - and not just Renault. Ferrari won 15 of 18
races this year and completely dominated both championships. It is up to
us to work better and challenge them in the future.

Q: Why have you chosen Giancarlo Fisichella for 2005?

FB: Above all he is a 'fighter', an experienced driver who races hard. He
is also a finisher - his speed does not change from the first lap to the
last. He takes every opportunity that comes his way and he knows the team
well, doesn't have a big ego and isn't interested in internal politics. I
am convinced that the combination of Fisichella-Alonso will be
spectacular next year.

Q: Is everything you need now in place to succeed?

FB: I think so. Viry-Ch?tillon and Enstone are working well together, our
technical programmes are established on a long-term basis and we are
hitting our targets. The most important thing we shouldn't forget is that
we are still a young team and that we must not try and progress too fast.
In F1, there is one key ingredient you cannot buy: time.